Serial killer Steve Wright has entered a guilty plea at the Old Bailey for the murder of 17-year-old Victoria Hall, a crime dating back to 1999. This admission marks Wright's sixth murder victim, adding to his notorious criminal record.
Guilty Plea and Sentencing Details
The 67-year-old defendant, who was due to face trial, changed his plea on Monday, confessing to the kidnap and murder of Victoria Hall on 19 September 1999. Wright also pleaded guilty to the attempted kidnap of Emily Doherty, then aged 22, in Felixstowe the previous day. This represents the first time Wright has admitted to any killings, despite previous appeals from his family for honesty.
Appearing in the dock wearing a navy and grey jumper, Wright spoke only to confirm his identity and enter his pleas. Mr Justice Bennathan has scheduled sentencing for Friday to allow Victoria's family the opportunity to attend and submit victim impact statements. Prosecutor Jocelyn Ledward KC confirmed that statements will also be provided by Victoria's friend Gemma Algar and Emily Doherty.
Background and Previous Convictions
Steve Wright, a former merchant seaman currently held at HMP Long Lartin in Worcestershire, is already serving a whole-life prison sentence for the murders of five women. These killings occurred seven years after Victoria Hall's murder, during a six-week period of terror in Ipswich in 2006. The victims, all sex workers, were found asphyxiated and left in similar locations, with some arranged in a crucifix shape described as macabre.
During his 2008 trial at Ipswich Crown Court, prosecutors argued that Wright systematically selected and murdered the women after stalking streets near his home. Evidence included DNA and fibres linking him to the crimes, though he admitted only to picking up the women for sex, denying involvement in their deaths. Following his conviction, relatives of the victims and Wright's own father expressed a desire for execution, but he received a rare whole-life order due to the pre-meditated nature of the killings.
Legal Proceedings and Evidence
The guilty pleas follow a ruling by Justice Bennathan that jurors in Wright's trial could be informed of his previous murder convictions, despite defence objections about potential prejudice. In legal arguments last month, the prosecution highlighted similarities among the six murders, noting that all victims were asphyxiated and left in comparable places, sharing a physical type. Additionally, evidence from a sex worker acquainted with Wright was presented to show his familiarity with the area related to Victoria's murder.
Victoria Hall's Case and Family Impact
Victoria Hall, from Trimley St Mary in Suffolk, disappeared on the evening of 18 September 1999 after leaving home for a night out with her friend Gemma Algar at the Bandbox nightclub in Felixstowe. Her body was discovered five days later in a ditch at Creeting St Peter, approximately 25 miles from where she was last seen. A year after the murder, her parents Graham and Lorinda Hall appealed for help to bring the perpetrator to justice.
Graham Hall expressed optimism at the time, stating that the killer must be under constant pressure from their conscience. Tragically, Lorinda Hall passed away in December last year, before her daughter's murderer could be held accountable. Gemma Algar, who had bid goodnight to Victoria shortly before her disappearance, was prepared to testify in the trial.
This case underscores the prolonged anguish for victims' families and the complex legal processes involved in serial murder investigations. With sentencing imminent, the focus now shifts to providing closure for those affected by Wright's horrific crimes.
